Frank Charlie Image 1 Transvaal 1921

Description

Jagersfontein, Orange Free State born right-hand batsman Charlie Frank served in the First World War, where he was badly gassed, before returning to South Africa. A short and slightly-built man, Frank made his first class cricket debut for Transvaal against the Australian Imperial Forces cricket team at Johannesburg in October 1919. He scored 108 and came into contention for national selection.

During Australia’s tour of South Africa in 1921-22, Frank was selected for all three Test matches, making his debut at Durban in November 1921. He played a starring role in the Second Test at Johannesburg. South Africa were forced to follow on in their second innings 207 runs behind, and Frank batted for over eight and a half hours, scoring a career high 152 to prevent an Australian victory. His time at the crease, against a strong Australian attack including Jack Gregory, Ted McDonald and Arthur Mailey, included partnerships of 105 with Herbie Taylor and 206 with Dave Nourse. Frank’s century is one of the slowest in Test cricket. The Australian wicket-keeper Bert Oldfield later wrote: “He gave one the impression that he did not have the strength to hit the ball to the boundary.”

Frank holds the record for the lowest aggregate of runs scored in a complete Test match career (236) that includes a score of 150. In 17 first class matches through to the 1925-26 season, Frank made one further century and one half century, averaging 24.39, against a Test match average of 39.33.

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